The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-01
GEORGE McDUFFIE.
A Sketch of His Life and Services

NCOtSC u1SounCj HA0boO'J NAO 'N'
famous orator who has ever honored
South Carolina by his life, was born in
Columbia county, Georgia, few miles
above the city of Augusta, August 18th,
1880. 1t is a matter greatly to be regret.
ted that so little is known of the antece.
dents of this distinguished statesman.
His parents are known to have removed
to Georgia from Lancaster district, South
Carolina, but when, and to what exact
point in that State, is not known. Gov
ernor Perry in his "reminiscences" says
that Mrs. Robert Cunningham, an aunt
of William L. Yancey, told him that she
went to school with McDufie in the
country above Augusta, and that bis
name was then pronounced "McAfee."
She said that his parents were in rather
INDECENT circumstances. They lived near
her fathers place, and she and George
were companions during their childhood.
McDufie began life, when very young,
as clerk in the mercantile establishment
of James Calhoun in Augusta. While
employed here, all his spare time wos
devoted to reading. His passion for
books attracted the attention of MIR.
William Calhoun, brother of bis en-
ployer, who was, blythe by, also
brother of John g. Calhoun: and he pro-
posed to take him to his home in Abbe-
Vile county, South Carolina, and educate
him. Young McDufie accordingly left
Augusta, and was placed by Mr.. Calhoun
in a school at Wellington in Abbeville
county. superintended by Rev. Mr. Wad-
dell, and in its day widely known
throughout Upper South Carolina. His
progress in this school was remarkable,
and he is said to have prepared himself
for the Junior class of the South Carolina
College in twelve months In December,
1911, he entered college, and by close
application, combined with his natural
quickness of intellect, he soon outstripped
all competitors and stood at the head of
the class. In the following June he
obtained position as tutor in the family
of Col. Haskell, of st. Matthew's parish.
He is also said to have taught in the
family of Mr.. Flood during his yaca.
tions. In this way he assisted his patron
in defraying the expenses of his collegi'
ate course. He returned to college in
October, 1872, and graduated in Decem-
ber of the next year, bearing off the first
honors of the class. His graduating
address was on "The Permanence of the
Union" and by the request of his fellow
students it was printed for circulation.
"It is little remarkable" says Judge
O'Neall, "that his opening speech on the
threshold of life, should have set before
the country his beliefin the permanency
of that Union, which many of his
speeches, in and out of Congress, subse-
quently so much jeopardized."
During his college career he was a
member of the Clariosophic Literary So
ciety, and the vigor and readiness with
which he threw himself into debate gave
the promise which was so amply fulfilled
in afterlife. His speeches, however, did
not partake of that passionate and
eloquent style which characterized his
later efforts, but are said to have been
calm and argumentative.
On leaving college he studied law and
was admitted to tbs bar in May, 1914.
He located at Pendetou as partner of
Warren B. Davis, and in December,
1914, was candidate for Solicitor Of the
western circuit of the State, but was
defeated for this position by Benjamin
II. Saxon, of Abbeville. McDufie
became somewhat disheartened at this
defeat and, vesigning his law Office at
Pendleton, removed to Edgefeld Court
House, where he became partner Of
Col. Eldre Simkins. This was the turn
ing point in McDufie's life, and from
being a "brieAess barrister" he entered
upon q practice which, in few years,
brought him honor, fame and riches.
His rise at the bar was now very rapid,
and his practice soon extended to all the
courts in the western. part of the State.
Many cases of very great Importance
were entrusted to him, and he conducted
them with marked prudence and ability,
and with invariable success.
In October, 1918, he was elected
member of the State Legislature from
Edgefeld district, and soon gained
reputation as most eloquent and able
debater. Col. Keating Lewis Simons,
who was in the Legislature with him, in
speaking of an argument McDufie had
delivered before the Judiciary Commit
tee of the House on giving the election
of presidentional electors into the hands
of the people, said 10 Judge Daniel E.
Huger: ~ never heard such eloquence
flow from the lips of mortal man. If
you could have seen him while speaking,
with his features animated, and his face
lighted up by the inspiration of elo-
quence, you would have thought him as
beautiful as an angel" This great com.
pliment, paid to young man by so dis
tinguished a person as Colonel Simons,
gives US an idea of how exalted an
opinion was entertained of McDuffie's
powers by bis contemporaries.
In 1918 McDufie was e. cted as a
member of the Board of Trustees of the
South Carolina College, and in October,
1920, was elected to Congress to repre-.
sent the district comprising the counties
of Edgefeld and Abbeville. In this
position he succeeded his partner, Colo.
mel Simkins, who voluntarily retired in
his favor.
1t was about this time that McDuffie